The News from Kenabeek

What glorious spring weather we’re having! There are still a few patches of snow and ice, where it’s shaded all day and was piled up, and I know it’ll get cold again, but it’s just about perfect today.

Yesterday I raked the leaves off the flower beds. The first year we were here, I actually raked leaves onto them, but I’ve found since that the trees do an excellent job of it without any help from me. Under the leaves were daylilies and daffodils sprouting, and some crocuses already out! I would love to start weeding but the ground is still frozen not that far down, so you can’t get the roots out. I will try to be patient.

Last week we had snow, and today there are butterflies. And today I finally saw the robin I’ve been hearing. We are still getting some chickadees and nuthatches at the feeder, but seed consumption is back to normal, so I’m wondering if the spring migration is already over. If so, there were definitely fewer birds passing through (or coming to nest) than in past years. Of course, it may be a lull – I can’t remember when the spring rush is generally over. Not all the regulars are back – no thrushes yet except for the robin. It won’t be long before I take in the seed feeder and put out the hummingbird feeder. (If it’s not up when they arrive, they hang in the air, right where the feeder is supposed to be, until someone notices!)

In the sunroom, the tomatoes are several inches tall – before long I will have to transplant them. Two of the three calla lilies are sprouting, but none of the cannas so far. The hollyhocks are all up, and there are sprouts in the morning glory/scarlet runner bean pots, and this morning one of the four o’clocks was just emerging. No violas yet but it hasn’t been that long. Next weekend I will start the pumpkins and squash. And I’m thinking I could soon put some Icelandic poppy seeds in the ground.

The old folks around here say the frogs (tree toads) have to be “froze out” several times before spring is really here, and I haven’t even heard them yet, so I know I’m rushing the season. But It is definitely on the way!